Old School House Nursery

Inspection of Old School House Nursery 1b Thomas Lane, Knotty Ash, LIVERPOOL L14 5NX

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision is good

The dedicated management team is passionate about providing high-quality care and education for all children. Staff are caring and nurturing. They have built up close relationships with children. Children are happy and settled. Babies happily explore the spacious rooms. They are engrossed as staff help them pour sand into funnels. Babies show great concentration as they use toy hammers to tap wooden blocks into their holders. Children play harmoniously in the outdoor area. They practise their hand-to-eye coordination as they roll balls to each other. Children giggle with glee as they practise throwing and catching balls with a partner.

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The provision is good

Staff have high expectations of children. They are positive role models. Staff encourage children to use good manners and to share the toys. Children are praised with thumbs up and high fives. This helps to raise their self-esteem. Children cuddle up to staff when they need reassurance. They demonstrate that they feel safe and secure here. Children's behaviour is very good. Staff plan exciting activities that motivate children. This helps children gain a thirst for learning from an early age. Older children thoroughly enjoy singing the days of the week in Spanish. They excitedly remember key words that they have learned in Ukrainian.

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need to do better?

n Children access a broad and balanced curriculum which builds on what they already know and can do. The key-person system is effective. Staff have a good knowledge of their key children and how to support their learning and development. They plan appropriate next steps and share them regularly with parents. As a result, all children make good progress in the seven areas of learning and development. n Staff provide opportunities to promote children's growing independence. Babies crawl to toys that they choose to play with. Toddlers feed themselves using cutlery at lunchtime. Older children pour their own drinks at the 'hydration station' when they become thirsty. These opportunities help to prepare children for the next stage in their learning. n Arrangements are in place to supervise staff working with children. These have been effective in supporting staff well-being. However, leaders do not always

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need to do better?

ensure that all staff receive clear targets to help them improve their quality of teaching. n Parents are complimentary about the nursery. They are happy with the care and education their children receive. Staff have recently introduced the 'family app' to parents. This provides parents with a detailed account of children's day. Staff work in partnership with parents to suggest ways they can support their children's communication and language at home. This helps to provide

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need to do better?

23 November 2022 consistency in children's care and learning. n Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported very well. Additional funding is carefully used to support children's individual needs. The special educational needs coordinator knows how to make timely referrals to outside agencies. She works collaboratively with a range of professionals. This helps to ensure that all children receive the right support. n The manager invites visitors such as firefighters and road safety officers to the nursery to teach children more about road and fire safety. Staff supervise children well when they use the internet in the nursery. However, staff have not yet considered how to teach children about keeping safe when using the internet at home. n Communication and language are promoted well. The manager utilises a screening tool to assess children's communication and language skills

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need to do better?

throughout their time at the setting. This helps staff to swiftly identify any emerging needs and provide intervention at the earliest opportunity. n Staff are very caring and attentive. They respond quickly when toddlers are tired, upset or hungry. They are on hand to provide cuddles and reassurance. This ensures that children's needs are met. n Staff support children's communication skills well. There is a strong focus on sharing books throughout the nursery. Babies learn how to turn pages. Toddlers join in with repeated phrases in books. Staff read books enthusiastically to children and help to bring the books to life. This helps children gain a love of reading from an early age.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff have a good knowledge of different types of abuse and the signs they need to be alert to. They are aware of the designated safeguarding officers within the nursery. All staff understand the whistle-blowing policy and are confident in knowing how to report any concerns. The provider follows effective recruitment and vetting procedures to make sure that all staff are suitable. Staff deployment is effective and children are well supervised. Regular risk assessments are carried out to enable staff to identify any hazards. Staff teach children to be mindful of their own safety. For example, they conduct regular fire evacuation drills with children.

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should:

n develop the arrangements for the supervision of staff further to identify clear targets that support them to enhance their teaching skills to the highest level n explore ways to help children to develop an understanding of how to keep safe when using the internet at home.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY443860 Local authority Liverpool Inspection number 10235701 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 90 Number of children on roll 112 Name of registered person Knotty Ash Nursery Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01512288255 Date of previous inspection 4 January 2017

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Information about this early years setting

Old School House Nursery re-registered in 2012. The nursery employs 28 members of childcare staff. Of these, all hold appropriate early years qualifications or are working towards them. The nursery opens from Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 7am to 6pm. The nursery provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk. They discussed the curriculum and what they want their children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n Children spoke to the inspector and shared what they enjoy doing in their nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and inspector carried out a joint observation together before discussing the impact practice had on children. n Parents and carers shared their views about the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

23 November 2022 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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